Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin says North Belfast rivals Crusaders are in the title box seat with only eight games of the Danske Bank Premiership campaign left.

The Crues, who romped to a 7-3 win at Glenavon on Saturday, lie six points clear of second-placed Linfield and 10 above Ronnie McFall's Portadown in third.

The Reds, whose hopes of winning the Gibson Cup for a third successive season are all but gone, are a distant 11 points off the pace in fourth.

While Breslin is reluctant to call time on Cliftonville's title prospects until they are mathematically gone, the Solitude boss knows time is running out.

He also believes the bookies have called it right be installing the Seaview men as 1/4 odds on favourites to be crowned champions in late-April.

Stephen Baxter's men have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 league outings, taking 28 points from a possible 30 in the process.

“Crusaders will be hard to stop,” said Breslin. “I've heard people say it's theirs to lose, but I think it's theirs to win now.

“They went to Glenavon and won 7-3 at the weekend, which was a tremendous result. They have a lot of momentum heading into the final eight games and credit to them.

“Ultimately, if they keep winning games, it doesn't matter what we do. If they continue in their recent vein of form they'll win the title. We will keep battling away, but they are in a very healthy position.”

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter

With second and third in the table guaranteeing Europa League football next season, Cliftonville's immediate aim is to muscle their way into the top-three.

“Our first target is to catch Portadown who are a point above us,” said Breslin. “Once we do that, then we can look at trying to catch Linfield.

“There is still a lot of football left to play and with the split to come and 24 points up for grabs, things can change very quickly. We're looking forward to the rest of the season. It should be an interesting run-in.”

Cliftonville's 1-0 win over Ballymena United on Saturday, following on from a 2-0 victory at Portadown the previous week, made it back-to-back wins for the Reds for the first time since November.

“We have looked a bit more like ourselves in recent weeks,” said Breslin. “Our last two league games have brought maximum points and two clean sheets, so it's pleasing."